That was filing day for the November election. And the good news is, none of the local races this year will be uncontested. Everyone running for office will have a challenger, and voters in almost every district will have a choice. That’s a rarity in an election with this many seats on the ballot, and one we welcome.

Even the most successful and effective public office holders need competition to remain truly accountable to the voters.

Republicans, who are in the minority here, have candidates in every race but one – House District 34. That’s the only race where Republican voters won’t have a choice, but Democrats will. Incumbent Bealquin Bill Gomez is being challenged by Raymundo Lara in the Democratic primary.

As is always the case, independent voters are shut out of New Mexico primary elections. Only registered party members in races with a contested primary can vote in June.

Open seats at the top of the ballot will mean plenty of candidates for voters to choose from. The one exception is in the governor’s race, where longtime U.S. Rep Steve Pearce will be unchallenged in the Republican primary. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is also giving up a seat in Congress to run for governor, has two challengers in the Democratic primary, including Sen. Joseph Cervantes, who has represented southern New Mexico in the state Legislature since 2002.

Six candidates will be on the ballot seeking Pearce’s seat in Congress, and that doesn’t count Angel Peña, whose appeal to the Secretary of State’s Office regarding disqualified petition signatures was denied. Republicans Yvette Herrell, Monty Newman, Gavin Clarkson and Clayburn Griffin will vie to see who faces the winner of the Democratic race between Xochitl Torres Small and L. Madeline Hildebrandt,

The county sheriff’s race, and races for two of the three County Commission seats on the ballot this year also drew a large field of candidates. That’s not surprising, given all the turmoil that has taken place at the county.

Sheriff Kiki Vigil will face four challengers in the Democratic primary. The seats in County Commission District 1, where Billy G. Garrett is required by term limits to step down, and District 5, where John Vasquez recently resigned, have also drawn large fields. There are five Democrats and two Republicans in the District 1 race; and four Democrats and two Republicans vying in District 5.

Some of those running this year are veteran campaigners who will be familiar to voters, others are new to the process and running for the first time. Either way, we respect everyone who have made this commitment. Democracy can’t work without those willing to take a stand and attempt to lead.

There are more than 11 weeks until the June 5 primary election. That should be plenty of time for candidates to get out and knock on doors, and for voters to learn about those candidates.

We look forward to a respectful discussion of the issues. There are big challenges facing our county, state and country, and competing ideas as to how best to address them. We need to hear from the candidates how they will improve the offices they are seeking, and what that will mean for us if they are elected.